Questions About Fat Is a Feminist Issue

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Would this book be difficult or triggering to read while coping with eating disorder recovery? I can't decide whether reading this book would be good to help me frame my body image in a feminist view or if it would still be too triggering at this point in recovery.

bronberry Hi! Can't believe your question has been sitting here for seven months without an answer! I think the answer, unfortunately, is "it depends on who you…moreHi! Can't believe your question has been sitting here for seven months without an answer! I think the answer, unfortunately, is "it depends on who you are and your personal journey and unique perspective".

I read this book while I was trying to recover from my eating disorder and I found some parts really enjoyable, but other parts made me angry. I remember thinking, "you don't get ED's at all!". I also really didn't like the premise in the book that women start out slender and then put on weight to cope with various issues (I can't remember if Orbach explicitly says "because of the patriarchy" but it was something along those lines). That made me angry because I was trying to reject the idea of thinness as a goal.

I think: give it a go, but consider reading other feminist books on the subject of bodies/dieting/weight to round out your views. I'd also strongly recommend having a trusted person to talk to about the content in the book if the content is at all triggering for you. Ultimately, Orbach's views are her personal views informed by clinical practice and embedded within a feminist and psychoanalytic perspective. Her views may resonate with you or they may not.

I hope this helps and all the best with your eating disorder recovery journey.(less)

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